Needle bed construction



Feb. 1, 1938. 1.. ROBACZYNSK] NEEDLE BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 10,1935 ZA0/J4A0J' @05ACZY/1 J/fl INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in knittingmachines, and more particularly it pertains to a novel construction ofneedle bed therefor.

'5 A needle bed or plate for knitting machines, particularly of the,links-links type, consists of a relatively long and narrow body portionon which is suitably formed a plurality of spaced upstanding ribs. Thisconstruction provides a plu- 10 rality of channels or grooves betweenthe ribs, which channels or grooves form slideways for needles andneedle jacks.

In actual practice, it has been found necessary to employ some means toretain the needles and 15 needle jacks in position in the channels orgrooves, particularly against a tendency to rise out of them when theyare moved therealong. This retaining means generally consists of a retaining strip which extends lengthwise of the needle bed or plate and.overlies the channels or grooves. The needles and jacks lie beneath thisretaining strip and are prevented thereby from displacement relativelyto the channels or grooves. In the most commonly employed construction,25 the top face or edge of the ribs is cut away to provide a seat forthe retaining strip and the side walls of this seat are undercut in sucha manner that in effect, a channel which is of dovetail cross-sectionalshape is formed, which channel 30 extends throughout the length of theneedle bed or plate. In assembling such a construction, one end of theretaining strip, which has beveled side edges, is inserted into one endof the dovetail channel and the strip is driven home, it being in '35its proper operative position when it is entirely received within thedovetail channel.

The retaining strip, by reason of its extreme length, was of a more orlessfiexible nature and either its placement in operative position orits 40 removal therefrom, was not easily accomplished and often seriousdamage to one or another of the parts resulted from such operations.

It is the primary object of this invention to simplify the constructionof this particular portion of a knitting machine bed, and moreparticularly, to render more easily accomplished, the placement andremoval of the retaining strip to and from its operative position.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby theretaining strip per se assumes its operative position immediately it isplaced upon the needle bed, it not being necessary to impart any degreeof longitudinal movement thereto as is necessary in the heretoforeemployed construction.

application filed by me, December 13,

A further feature of the invention resides in a novel form of fasteningmeans for securing the retaining strip in position, which fasteningmeans is also so constructed as to provide the necessary rigidity toprevent buckling or other distortion of 5 the retaining strip,

A still further feature of the invention resides in a novel constructionwhereby the several parts may be readily and easily assembled ordisassembled without danger of injury thereto.

Other features of the invention relate to certain novel and improvedconstructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages ofwhich will be readily understood 5 and appreciated by those skilled inthe art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawingillustrating the invention in its preferred form and the followingdetailed description. of the constructions therein shown.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of a needle bed and retainingstrip constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on a slightly enlarged scaletaken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, and;

Figure 3 is a distended fragmentary perspective view on an enlargedscale showing a section of the needle bed, the retaining strip andfastening member.

The needle bed which is designated It] consists of arelatively longnarrow member. The reference character I2 designates a comb plate which,although herein shown as of special construction, constitutes thesubject matter of a co-pending 1935 Serial No. 54,185.

The needle bed or plate is formed with a plurality of spaced ribs Itwhich form intervening channels I6. These channels it provide slidewaysfor needle jacks and needles, the latter, in the present instance, beingillustrated as of the double latch type. Machines of the type with whichthe needle bed of the present application is particularly intended foruse, employ two such needle beds. and the needles are transferable fromone bed to the other during the knitting operation.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the ribs H! are cut out asdesignated at I8 in Figure 3 to provide a seat extending lengthwise ofthe needle bed or plate, said seat having but a single rear wall. Thiswall is designated 20and, as

terminate short of the ends if desired, so long as it overlies all ofthe channels IS. The retaining strip 26 is provided with a plurality ofelongated openings 28 which are spaced from each other a distance equalto the spaces between the lugs 22, heretofore mentioned. These openings28 are elongated in a direction transversely of the retaining strip 25and are adapted to receive the lugs 22 in a manner which will permit oflateral movement of the retaining strip relative to its seat l8.

The retaining strip 26 is adapted to overlie the slideways formed by thechannels [6 between the ribs l4 at a point adjacent the front edge ofthe needle bed and at a point where the needle jacks, which aredesignated 30, connect with the needles, which are designated 32, asbest illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing to prevent displacement ordisconnection of the needle jacks and needles during the knittingoperation.

Means is provided to secure the retaining strip in position upon theneedle bed, and this means preferably consists of a relatively flatstrip of metal 34 adapted to be received on top of the retaining strip26. This fastening member 34 has beveled side edges 35 and 3B which areadapted to cooperate with the undercut wall 20 of the seat l8 and theundercut walls 24 of the lugs 22 to lock the fastening member inposition beneath the wall 20 and said lugs. The forward edge of thefastening member 34 is provided with a series of notches 40, whichnotches are spaced a distance equal to the distance between the lugs 22in such manner that the fastening member 34 may be placed upon the upperface of the retaining strip 26, with the notches in registration withthe lugs 22, it being understood that the retaining strip is firstpositioned with the lugs 22 within the elongated openings 28. Thefastening member, having been positioned as above described, may now bemoved longitudinally of the retaining strip 26, whereupon the forwardbeveled edge 36 of the fastening member will pass beneath the angularwalls 24 of the lugs 22 to a position in which the fastening member 34is shown in Figure 1. This position of the fastening member will holdthe retaining strip firmly to its seat I8 and lend rigidity to theassembled parts. The fastening member 34 may be provided with a rib 46which extends throughout the major portion of the length thereof andserves to strengthen the fastening member 34.

To insure against movement of the parts, a screw or similar securingmeans 48 may be passed through the fastening member 34 and the retainingstrip 26 into threaded engagement with a threaded opening, not shown, inthe needle bed or plate 10.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a new and novel construction of needle and needle jackretaining means for the needle beds of knitting machines in which theparts may be readily assembled and.

disassembled without danger of damage thereto, as distinguished from thegenerally employed construction heretofore described.

While the present invention has been herein illustrated in its preferredform, it will be obvious that it may be practiced in other forms withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, and means for preventing displacement of needles and needle jacksrelative to the channels, said means comprising a retaining stripoverlying said ribs and intervening channels, said retaining striphaving spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain of saidribs and adapted for reception in'the spaced openings, of the retainingstrip to position thesame relative to the bed, and means havingengagement with said projecting lugs for securing the retaining strip inposition on the needle bed.

'2. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the bodyjportion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, and. means for preventing displacement of needles and needlejacks relative to said channels, said means comprising a retaining stripoverlyingsaid ribs and intervening channels, said retaining strip havingspaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain of said ribs andadapted for reception in the spaced openings of the retaining strip toposition the same relative to the bed, and a fastening member adapted tooverlie said retaining strip and have interengagement with said lugs tosecure the retaining strip to the needle bed.

3.. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, and means for preventing displacement of needles and needle jacksrelative to said channels, said means comprising a retaining stripoverlying said ribs and intervening channels, said retaining striphaving spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain of saidribs and adapted for reception in the spaced openings of the retainingstrip to position the same relative to the bed, and a fastening member,said fastening member comprising a relatively narrow strip, a notchedflange defining one edge thereof the notches 'in said flange cooperatingwith the aforementioned lugs to permit of operatively positioning thefastening member, said fastening member being adapted to overlie theretaining strip with its flange inengagement with said lugs.

4. A knitting machine needlebed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, said spaced ribs having a seat formed in their upper edges, therear wall of which is undercut and means for preventing dis-' placementof needles and needle jacks relative to said channels, said meanscomprising a retaining strip overlying said channels, said retainingstrip having spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain ofsaid ribs, said lugs having an undercut wall, and said lugs beingadapted for reception in the openings of the retaining strip when it isin position on the needle bed, and meansslidable beneath the undercutwalls of the lugs and the rear undercut wall of the seat .and'

upon the upper face of the retaining strip for securing the retainingstrip in position, said means having beveled opposite side edges.

5. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, said spaced ribs having a seat formed in their upper edges, therear wall of which is undercut and means for preventing displacement ofneedles and needle jacks relative to said channels, said meanscomprising a retaining strip overlying said channels, said retainingstrip having spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain ofsaid ribs, said lugs having an undercut wall, and said lugs beingadapted for reception in the openings of the retaining strip when it isin position on the needle bed, and means slidable beneath the undercutwalls of the lugs and the rear undercut wall of the seat and upon theupper face of the retaining strip for securing the retaining strip inposition, said means comprising a rigid bar, and a flange extendingalong one edge thereof, the opposite sides of said bar being beveled.

6. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, said spaced ribs having a seat formed in their upper edges, therear wall of which is undercut and means for preventing displacement ofneedles and needle jacks relative to said channels, said meanscomprising a retaining strip overlying said channels, said retainingstrip having spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain ofsaid ribs, said lugs having an undercut wall, and said lugs beingadapted for reception in the openings of the retaining strip when it isin position on the needle bed, and. means slidable beneath the undercutwalls of the lugs and the rear undercut wall of the seat and upon theupper face of the retaining strip for securing the retaining strip inposition, said means comprising a rigid bar, a notched flange definingone edge of said rigid bar, said rigid bar being adapted to be placedwith its notches in registration with said lugs and moved longitudinallyof the needle bed to position the flange beneath the undercut walls ofthe lugs, and the seat, said rigid bar having beveled side edges.

7. A knitting machine needle bed comprising a body portion, spaced ribson the body portion forming intervening channels for needles and needlejacks, said spaced ribs having a seat formed in their upper edges, therear wall of which is undercut and means for preventing displacement ofneedles and needle jacks relative to said channels, said meanscomprising a retaining strip overlying said channels, said retainingstrip having spaced openings therein, lugs projecting from certain ofsaid ribs, said lugs having an undercut wall, and said lugs beingadapted for reception in the openings of the retaining strip when it isin position on the needle bed, and means slidable beneath the undercutwalls of the lugs and the rear undercut wall of the seat and upon theupper face of the retaining strip for securing the, retaining strip inposition, said means comprising a rigid bar, having opposite beveledside edges, one of which is notched, said rigid bar being adapted to beplaced with its notches in registration with said lugs and movedlongitudinally of the needle bed with the corresponding beveled edge ofthe flange passing beneath and having engagement with the undercut wallsof said lugs.

LADISLAUS ROBACZYNSIQ.

